Fire extinguisher



June 13, 1944. u. PIAGNERI 2,351,365 I FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec. 22, 1941 mmvron. UMBER 7-0 PM smve/ 44 7' TOENE YS Patented June 13, 1944 Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 423,998

4 Claims.

invention relates to a fire extinguisher which is particularly intended for use in connectionwith conduits or fiue where a fire can be developed as in flues where grease, soot or other combustibles can collect and in garbage chute and .thelike.

Most apartment houses are today provided with garbage chutes which extend from the ground iioor'upward, three, four or more stories, depending upon the height of the building. Each floor isprovided with a covered hopper which connects with the garbage chute, so that the occupants vof each fioor may conveniently dispose 9 I th eir, garbage. Waste paper and other combustible rubbish is also dumped into the garbage chute and-if some careless person should happen to throw a burning match or cigarette butt into the chute, a fire may start. In fact, so many fires are started in this manner that many cities are adopting stringent rules and taking every precauti9ntoward fire prevention from this cause. -;'I'he-object ofthis invention is to provide a sprinkler system in connection with flues, garbage chutes and the like whereby a sufficient amount of water may be applied to extinguish such a fire before it gains any considerable headway and further, to provide means actuated by the flames or heat developed when the fire starts to automatically turn on. the sprinkler system and-for soundingan alarm so that the water may be turned off when the fire is extinguished. 3 The invention is shownby way of illustration the accompanying drawing in which: =-'Fi g.:1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of a garbage chute such as employed in apartment houses; said section showing the application of-a sprinkler system and a heat actuated means for automatically turning n=the sprinkler system when fire is started, and for sounding an alarm.- t i v -;;;Fig. 2'is the side elevation and partial section ofthe upper endof the garbage chute-taken on line1II.II,'Fig.' 1.

-23 is a partial cross section taken on Ill- -III, Fig. 1., s I :-;;:Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism shown at the top of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates a garbage chute which may bev cylindrical in cross section or of any other suitable shape., The garbage chute, if installed iii-an apartment house, willextend from the ground floor or basement to the uppermost floor and-each floor will be provided with a hopper 2 through. which garbage may be dumped into the chute .Formed in oneside of the chute are a pluralityil of openings 3, which may be spaced apart any. suitable distance, for instance-three inches or more. Partially covering each opening 3,- is a deflc'tor 4. Attached to the chute A is line a semi-circular tube orfiue 5, see Figs. 1 and 3. The openings 3 register with the fine 5 and the fiue extends the total length of the garbage chute. Disposed at the upper end of the garbage chute is a head B which may be said to be T-shaped, as it extends crosswise of the garbage chute A and has openings 6 formed at each end to permit venting of the garbage chute and air circulation.

Disposed within the head B is a sprinkler head C and connected therewith to supply water under pressure is a pipe I. On the pipe is mounted a valve 8 which is normally closed. The valve is preferably of they rotary type, that isa plug valve may be employed which, when rotated, either opens or closes the same. If a plug valve is employed, the outer end thereof will be provided with a lever 9 and on the outer end of the lever will be secured a heavy weight I0, When the lever 9 and weight In assume the horizontal or full line position shown in Fig. l, the valve will be closed, and when the lever and weight is released and swings downwardly as will hereinafter be described, the valve will open and the sprinkler C will function. a

Means must be provided for supporting the lever B and weight I0 in the horizontal position shown and this means is-heat actuated to release the lever and weight when the sprinkler head is to function. In the present instance the lever 9 and weight I0 is supported by a second lever indicated at ll. This lever is pivoted as at l2 to a plate l4 supported by the head B. On one side of the lever II and adjacent to pivot I2 is an angle plate I5 and this engages a roller l6 secured to one side of the lever 9. The lever II is also provided with a weight shown at IT, while the opposite end of the lever is provided with a cord l8 which extends downwardly through the head B and the flue 5 to the lower end thereof where it is anchored at the point indicated at 19. I

The cord l8 may be constructed of any material which will part when subjected to the direct action of flames or heat developed thereby, thus, the cord It! may be in the, form of a fusible wire or links which will fuse and part when subjected to a certain temperature; or it may be constructed of any combustible material which will part when subjected to heat or flame action.

The cord l8 has sufiicient strength in tension to maintain the lever H in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 and thereby to support the lever 9 and the weight III in the horizontal position, as roller I 6 will be supported by the angle plate l5. On the'other hand, if a fire starts at some point in the garbage chute, the flames and heat developed will be directed by the baiiles or deflectors 4 into the flue 5 and the moment a certain temperature is developed, the

sprinkler head. Water in the form of a shower i i is thus directed downwardly through the chute similar applications as in kitchen vents, flue's, stacks and the like.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim andwish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a flue or chute in .which combustible material may collect of a sprinkler for directing water into the chute, a

and the fire will be quickly extinguished. 'The water would, however, continue to flow 'unlessan. alarm is given so that the landlord or someone. in charge will be notified, thereby permitting the water to be shut off and the mechanism reset. '3

In the present instance, an electric actuated bell 20 is provided. Thismay be supplied with current from a battery 2 I or other suitable source of current supply. One wire2 l a from the battery extends to the bell 20 as shown: and another wire 22'connects the bell withthe lever H. "A stop member, insulated from the. plate [4 is provided at 23 and a third wire 24 connects this wirewith the other terminal ofthe battery. Thus, when the lever l I is released by parting of the cord [8, it will swing from the horizontal to the dotted line position shown and will thus close the circuit to operate the bell 20, thereby sounding an audible alarm. When this is'sounding, the proprietor, manager,or other person in charge of the apartment house, will know that a fire has started in the garbage chute or otherflue in which the mechanism is installed and that the sprinkler system has been turned on. 'That personwill accordingly investigate and determine when the fire is properly extinguished. He'may then pro.- ceed'tothe uppermost floor andclose a valve indicated at 25 to temporarily close off the water. He may then lower a new cord,.such as shown at I8, through the flue and later attach the lower end thereof to the bottom anchor 19. He will then return the levers to-the horizontal position and attach the cord to the outer end of the lever I I, when resetting of the mechanism will be completed and valve 25 may be again opened. A sliding door such as shown at 26 may be provided for convenient access to the anchor 19.

It may happen in. an installation of this character that a fire may not occur-over a period of a year or more. Corrosion is continuously taking place in water pipes and valves and if valve 8 is not operated over a long period of time, corrosion will take place and tend to resist opening of the valve when fire occurs. It is for this reason that a comparatively long lever 9 with a large weight mat the outer end'is employed as th weight plus the lever arm will positively rotate the plug and open the valve even'though considerable corrosion may'havej taken place;

The sprinkler head C is preferably of such size as'to substantially close the upper end of. the

chute. Hence venting takes place through the openings 3 and the flue 5 and if a fire is started in the chute, the natural'tendency will be to created a draft especially through i the flue 5, thereby directing the heat and flames against the cord l8 and insuring positive release and-quick operation of the valve 8 and sprinkler head C.

While this and other features of the invention has been more or less specifically described and illustrated, it should be understood that'varying changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, it'should be understood that the materials and finish of the several parts may also be varied and that while the invention has beendescribed in connection with a garbage chute, it may obviously have other and valve normally shutting oh the water supply to the sprinkler, a flue adjacent the chute, openings formed in the chute in communication with the flue, means for directing flames and products of combustion when a fire occurs in the chute through said openings and upward through the.

flue," a heat destructible cord-extending through the'flue, said valve beingmaintained in"; closed position by said cord and means for opening-the valve upon destruction of the cord. r

2. The combination with a flue or chutein which combustible material may collect cfia sprinkler for directing water into the chute, a valve normally shutting'ofi the watersupply to the sprinkler, a flue adjacent the chute, openings formed in the chute in communication ewith the flue, means fordirecting flames and -prod ucts of combustionwhen -a fire occurs in-the chute through said openings and upward through the flue, a-heat desctructible cord extending through the flue, said valve being maintained'in closed position by said cordand; means for opening the valve upondestruction of the-cord,-and simultaneously sounding an alarm. f

3. The combination with a 'flueor-chute in which combustible material may collect of a sprinkler for directing water into the chute,-' 'a valve normally shutting off the water-supply-to the sprinkler, a lever on'the valve, a-wei'ght-on the outer end ofthe lever to open the valvepa second lever, a pivotal supportffor said second lever, a roller on the valve lever'projectin'g over and engaging the second lever at one side-of its pivot, said-pin and. second lever ferminga-support for the valve lever and its weight to-maintain the valve in closed position, heat destructible means connecting with the second lever onthe opposite side of its pivot to secure said-second lever against pivotal movement, and a-weight on the secondlever to swing-it about its pivot to release the valve lever'a'nd its weightwhen the heat destructible means is destroyed. I I 4. The combination with a'flue-or chutem which combustible material may collect e! -a sprinkler for directing water into the chute-e valve normally shutting oil thewatersupply to the sprinklenlaleveron the valve, a -weight-on the-outer end of the lever: to open'the jvalva-a second lever, a pivotal support for said econd lever, a roller. on the valve lever'projectingrover and engaging the second lever at one-side or" its pivot, said second lever forming a support -for the valve lever and its weight'tomaintainthe valve in closed position, a flue adjacent the chute, means for directing flames and products of combustion when a fire occurs from the chute into said flue, a heat -destructible cord-extending through the flue, meanssecuring one'end or the cord to the lower end of the flue, said cord being connected at its upper end to the second'ileverto secure said second lever againstpivotall move ment, and a weight on the second leveritoswing it about its pivot to release the valve lever: and its weight when the heat. destructible-v cord ladestroyed.

. UMBHERTO PIAGNERI. I 

